Job 40:1-24 | God Challenges Job & Describes Behemoth

The Verses

God’s Challenge to Job
“Then the Lord said to Job,
‘Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty?
Let him who rebukes God give an answer.’

Then Job answered the Lord and said,
‘Behold, I am insignificant; what can I say in response to You?
I put my hand on my mouth.
I have spoken once, and I will not reply;
Or twice, and I will add nothing more.’

God’s Description of Behemoth
“Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind and said,
‘Now tighten the belt on your waist like a man;
I will ask you, and you instruct Me.
Will you really nullify My judgment?
Will you condemn Me so that you may be justified?
Or do you have an arm like God,
And can you thunder with a voice like His?

Adorn yourself with pride and dignity,
And clothe yourself with honor and majesty.
Let out your outbursts of anger,
And look at everyone who is arrogant, and humble him.
Look at everyone who is arrogant, and humble him,
And trample down the wicked where they stand.
Hide them together in the dust;
Imprison them in the hidden place.
Then I will also confess to you,
That your own right hand can save you.

Behold, Behemoth, which I made as well as you;
It eats grass like an ox.
Behold, its strength is in its waist,
And its power is in the muscles of its belly.
It bends its tail like a cedar;
The tendons of its thighs are knit together.
Its bones are tubes of bronze;
Its limbs are like bars of iron.
It is the first of the ways of God;
Let its Maker bring His sword near.

Indeed, the mountains bring it food,
And all the animals of the field play there.
It lies down under the lotus plants,
In the hiding place of the reeds and the marsh.
The lotus plants cover it with shade;
The willows of the brook surround it.
If a river rages, it is not alarmed;
It is confident, even if the Jordan rushes into its mouth.
Can anyone capture it by its eyes,
Or pierce its nose with hooks?’”

Context and Meaning

God now directly challenges Job, asking if he will still question God’s justice. He then describes Behemoth, a mighty creature, as evidence of His power in creation.

Key Themes:

Job’s Humility Before God: Job realizes his insignificance and admits he cannot argue with God (v. 3-5).
God’s Supreme Justice and Power: God asks Job if he can govern the world better—Job must trust that God’s justice is beyond human understanding (v. 6-14).
Behemoth as a Symbol of God’s Power: Behemoth is an unstoppable, untamed creature, emphasizing that God’s creation is beyond human control (v. 15-24).

Behemoth may be a literal animal (like a hippopotamus or dinosaur) or a symbolic representation of chaos and strength. Either way, the point is clear—Job is not in control, but God is.

Reflection and Impact

God’s response shifts Job’s focus from why he suffers to who is in control:

God’s Justice Stands, Even If We Don’t Understand It: Job questioned God’s fairness, but God reminds him that His justice is perfect (Deuteronomy 32:4).
Humility is the Right Response to God’s Greatness: Job’s hand-over-mouth moment is a model for how we should respond to God’s wisdom (Psalm 46:10).
God’s Power in Creation is a Reminder to Trust Him: If God created and controls creatures like Behemoth, He can certainly be trusted with human affairs (Isaiah 40:28-31).

Application

Surrender to God’s Wisdom: Instead of trying to figure out every answer, learn to trust God’s higher plan (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Respond to God with Humility: When faced with God’s greatness, let your response be worship, not arguments (James 4:10).
Rest in God’s Sovereignty: If God governs creation perfectly, He can handle your trials perfectly too (Romans 8:28).

Closing Thought

Job begins to realize his place before God—he is not meant to argue with the Almighty, but to trust Him. The image of Behemoth reminds us that God’s power extends far beyond human control—a truth that should lead us to humility, trust, and worship.

TIME FOR PROVIDENCE